STATE OF THE VALLEY ADDRESS

Hello, Citizens of the Valley!

Elliott here.

Boy, we picked a heck of a week to return full-force! After months of filming and preparation, we unleashed a torrent of content last week that was incredibly well-received. While our views are down, our hearts are full, and we literally owe it all to you, our patrons. So, on behalf of everyone here (figuratively, that is, as I’m the only one in the office right now besides this Tom Hanks cutout that keeps coughing on me), THANK YOU. I know a lot of “thank yous” can sound like lip service, but the reality is that this is a dream job, and having your support has enabled us to continue to take risks and “go for it.” And that was before all this uncertainty, which has only cemented how fortunate we feel to be able to do what we do. So again, thank you. 

The Valleyfolk was created out of trust-- trust that we, as a group of weirdos, could support one another creatively and emotionally, and trust that our audience would come along for the ride. Well, you not only came along for the ride-- you jumped in the front seat with a fresh Gatorade and a spoonful of peanut butter. In doing so, you turned this pipe dream into an actual community. How dare you. 

Over the past year, I’ve started thinking of the relationship between The Valleyfolk and our patrons as a transparent iceberg, in which what you see is raw and honest, but not necessarily exhaustive of everything that’s going on. If we were just “YouTubers,” we might show you the whole thing. But we take the job of creating an escape for people very seriously. Maybe too seriously, which is very comedian of us. Still, certain times call for certain measures, so I want to try to offer a bit more transparency now in terms of where we’re at mentally. There are far bigger concerns in the world right now, so please take care of yourself and be responsible. This is only meant to be an update, with a little more bluntness than usual, so we can touch base while we’re all weathering this insanity. Also, this from my perspective, so I don’t know how much it’ll align with Steve and Joe, but they’re not here right now, so this is about me, bitches. 

The first thing I want to say is that Joe and Steve are killing it right now. Whether it’s writing, production, brainstorming, administrative, whatever, recent times have brought out the best of them in many ways. I can’t necessarily say the same for me, but I think I’m finally getting there. To be frank, I’ve been operating with a low-grade depression, which is especially frustrating from a creative standpoint. Joe and Steve have, as well, but we’ve all handled this a bit differently. Self-doubt and timidity are very real monsters for us right now, as I’m sure you’ve picked up on, but we’re fighting our butts off and that feels incredible. In my opinion, we’re winning. I’ve always felt like we are an eight-cylinder Ferrari that’s driving with only six, and a global pandemic doesn’t exactly help that. But all of the anxiety is manageable when you’re grounded in the belief that you’ve got something, whatever it may be, to offer. In short, yes, I’m scared that this could all go away, but you know what? I’ve bet a lot in my life on the idea that painful decisions-- the ones that scare you to death, the ones people may not fully understand-- cause the most growth. What form that growth takes remains to be seen, but I’m personally excited to find out, and for that, thank you. It’s not about the money, nor has it ever been. It’s what it represents, which is a weird, slightly demented version of faith-- one that we all share. So as we say in the south, bless your heart, honey. 

Now, some updates (and please staple a big AS OF RIGHT NOW on these things…):

The Schedule: Our new posting schedule is rad as heck, and it won’t be changing. So if you’re at home and bored, we’re here with all sorts of stupidity sure to lower your IQ. We’re like hand sanitizer for your brain, just not nearly as expensive. However, we are not filming new stuff this week, and we are instead focusing on writing weirder, more ambitious projects, while Kevin and Kait edit from home. This is basically a reshuffling of our normal flow, with emphasis on pre-production and post-production over, you know, sneezing on each other. In the end, I think this period will result in the best stuff The Valleyfolk has made thus far. And if ever there was a group of dudes who should stay at home for public safety, it’s our nasty butts. 

The Business: As we’ve hinted at recently, we’re in the process of making the biggest moves we’ve ever made here at The Valleyfolk. Do you play roulette? I play a lot of electronic roulette, because I’m so cool or whatever, and The Valleyfolk is putting it all on black right now, so to speak. The only difference is we’re approaching things with wisdom and passion, not fear or self-preservation. And it feels really awesome. I’ve never been prouder of this thing, and that’s saying something, because I’m lowkey proud af of The Valleyfolk-- and that’s including the painful stuff, the missteps, all of it. We are a beautiful mess, and I’d have it no other way.

The Creative: For those who might think The Valleyfolk is now ONLY short-form Your Show videos, rest assured, it’s the opposite. I’m writing some weird stuff right now that I think you guys are going to really resonate with-- or at least be entertained by, who knows. Joe’s coming up with quarantine-friendly sketches that are silly and weird and he keeps texting me to read it and YEAH I WILL JOE I’M WRITING A PATREON POST RIGHT NOW, and Steve has been churning out more gold lately than frankly I’m comfortable with. Someone stop that man. We’ve set ourselves up to be able to showcase our skills in all new ways, and no stupid virus is gonna stop us from contaminating the world with our hearts and souls and farts.

So to wrap this thing up, we’re going to continue to be here creating and uploading content through this time, while making sure our employees are safe at home. We’re not petering out or hiding behind our uncertainty, nor are we allowing ourselves to be dictated by views, vitriol, or viruses… if only alliteration killed germs. Anyway, we hope you all are doing well, and that you enjoyed today’s Your Show, which is right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d16YVmLdbD0

See you REAL soon. 

With horniness,

Elliott Morgan (of The Valleyfolk)